Microsoft to spend $1 billion in China

ZHANG YAQIN, the chairman of Microsoft's China Research and Development arm said Thursday that the parent company will spend more than $1 billion on R&D in the People's Republic over the next three years.

Zhang said Microsoft's additional spending projection doesn't include the $300 million it has already planned to invest in building new offices in Beijing.

"This spending is mainly targeted at staffing and resources for research and development, it does not include mergers and acquisitions," Zhang said.

He spoke at the event announcing the appointment of Simon Leung as the new chairman and CEO for Microsoft China. Zhang has been acting chairman until the announcement. Leung's previous job was serving as Motorola's president of its Asia Pacific operations.

The Vole had earlier said it would invest $100 million in Chinese software companies and spend $100 million more on software development. µ

L'Inq
Reuters